Hay-loader.



No. 851,670. PATENTBD APR. 30, 1907.

E. A. JUHNSTON.

HAY LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.20.1906.

' No'. 851,670. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

E. A. JOHNSTON. HAY LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED 13190.20, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LQLzeJJe: Mag.

TH: NaRRls Perales co., wasn/mman. D. c

010.051,070. PATENTED APR. s0, 1007. 0.0000001300 HAY LOADER.

APPLIOATIoN FILED DB0. 20,1005.

ls rrr-Ins ca., WASHINGTON. A cv 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.,

. INO. 851,670. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

E. A. JOHNSTON.

HAY LOADER.

APPLwATIoN HLM 1330.20.1005.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1HE mmm: PETER: ca., wAsmNcmN, n, c.

UNITED STATES NATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY,

ATENT OFFIOE.

ASSIGNOR TO INTER- A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HAY-LOADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed December 20, 1905. Serial No. 292.533.

To ti/Z whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD ARTHUR JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of lVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in H ay-Loaders, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to hay loaders of the class which is hitched to the rear of a wagon and drawn across the field, the loader gathering the hay, elevating it and depositing it upon the wagon.

The object of the invention is to improve the general construction of a hay loader; to so arrange the several parts relative to the main axle that the machine will be well balanced and permitted to operate as closely as possible in the rear of the wagon, and also to improve the arrangement of the driving members for the gatheringand elevating-carrier.

In hay loaders heretofore constructed the gathering device or carrier is usually placed in the rear of the main wheels, which results in -a large part of the weight of the machine being in the rear of the axle, and results also in a greater required distance between the rear of the wagon and the gathering cylinder, thereby rendering it difficult not only to turn corners without missing hay, but also to pick up a divided swath.

My improved construction overcomes the above mentioned difficulty by a more favorable arrangement of the. gathering-carrier, and also secures a simple and effective tongue hitch and a single means for driving the gathering-carrier and the elevating-carrier. The fact that the gathering-carrier is located in advance of the main wheel will readily permit the division of a swath, as the wheels will tread upon thev unraked hay while the gathering device effects a separation of same.

Other improvements in the details of construction will appear in the following description and are set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which- V Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a hay loader embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a rear view of same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the complete machine. Fig. 4 represents a detail section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and designedto show the construction of the gathering-carrier. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal detail section taken through the left-liaiid end of the gathering cylinder. Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the manner inwhieli the upper cylinl der of the gathering-cariieris mounted on the main frame, and also the construction of the crank shaft for operating the bars of the elevating-carrier. Fig. 7 represents a detail view in side elevation of the tongue hitch, and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of saine. Figs. 9 and 1() represent detail sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 9-9 and 10- 10 of Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side and end elevation of the head of the gathering cylinder.

1 of the machine is constructed of two tiiangular shaped side frames, with suitable transversely extending connecting members therebetween. N ear the lower corner of the l frame are secured bearings, in which journals the main supporting and driving axle 2. p The supporting wheels 3 are mounted upon the axle 2, and have the usual pawl and l ratchet connection with the adjacent driving l sprocket wheels i. On the lower member 11 l of the main frame, near the upper end therel of and slightly in the rear of the axle 2, is

journaled in the bearings 5 the shaft (i. On l this shaft is secured the upper driving cylinder or drum 7 of the gathering-carriei. l Sprocket wheels S are fixed to the outer ends of this shaft 6, the sprocket chains 9 connecting same with the driving sprockets 4 on the main axle. It is obvious, of course, that a series of wheels on the shaft 6 could be used instead of a solid drum and would be the functional equivalent thereof.

On the shaft 6 as a center is pivotally `mounted the frame of the gathering-carrier, y the said frame consisting essentially of the i downwardly and forwardly projecting arms 10, which engage the outer ends of the hub y bearings 5 and the square shaft 11 of the gathering cylinder, the hub of the cylinder head being interposed between said shaft 11 and the sleeve 10l on the lower end of the arm Referring to the drawings, the main frame TOO being each provided with a cranked end 131 made to engage the cam track 151 on the cam 15, which is fixed to the lower end of one of the arms 10, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the rake heads are controlled thereby in the usual well-known manner. The cylinder heads 12 are provided with a number of large radially projecting teeth 121, and on the drum 7, throughout its length, are arranged similar teeth 71, which operate as lifters to disengage the hay from the slatted endless carrier 16, which passes around the drum and cylinder and is driven by the teeth of the drum.

To yieldingly suspend the forward end of the frame which supports the gathering cylinder, adjustable springs 17 are interposed between a portion of the main frame and the lower end of the arms 10, while the adjustable stops 18 limit the extent of downward movement of said frame. Side boards 19, with sheet iron extensions 20, form shields or guards for keeping the hay within its `proper channel. The curved bar 201 connects the board 19 with the lower end of the arm 10, strengthens the shield and also affords, at its inner end, a point of attachment for the spring 17. There is thus formed a gatheringcarrier pivoted at its upper end at a point above and slightly in the rear of the axle 4 and projecting downward and forwardly, with its lower end adjustable and elastically suspended forward of the main axle of the loader.

In order to properly confine the hay upon the endless slatted conveyer 16 and between the end boards 19, elastic compressor bars 21 are provided, these bars being secured at their lower ends to the cross-sill 12 of the main frame 1, while their upper ends curve forwardly and overlap the lower ends of the bottom strips 22 of the elevator frame, as shown in Fig. 3. These spring compressor bars 21 are so arranged as to converge upwardly with respect to the top of the endless conveyer 16, thus forming a yielding throat at the delivery end of the gathering-carrier. The elevator frame is of the usual construction, its bottom, however, terminating at the cross-sill 23, which underlies the overlapping ends of the compressor bars 21, and to which is also secured the lower ends of the bottom strips 22 of the elevator frame.

To take the hay from the gathering-carrier as it is delivered from the upper end thereof, and on which it is moved in a direction transverse to the movement imparted to the hay after it is received by the elevating-carrier, reciprocating finger bars 24 are employed. These finger bars 24 are provided with the downwardly and forwardly projecting spring teeth 241. To control the bars at their lower ends a slotted guide strip 25 is provided, the bars being received and guided by the slots therein, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 11. The upper ends of the finger bars are supported by depending hangers 26 which are secured to the cross shafts 27 and 28, the alternate bars being supported by a different shaft. Each shaft is provided, on its end, with the rollers 29, which are made to move within the guide-'ways 30 on each side of the frame ofthe machine, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. The hangers 26 are limited with res peet to the extent of movement in a downward direction on the shafts 27 and 28, but are free to yield upwardly in order to permit the upp er ends of the finger bars 24 to withdraw from the hay on their down strokes. To impart reci'i'irocating movement to the shafts 27 and 28 a pitman connection 31 is provided between the ends of said shafts and the cranks 32, which are secured to the sprocket wheel 8 on the end of the driving shaft 6 of the upper cylinder 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Each crank 32 is a double throw, oppositely arranged crank which connects with the lower end of the pitmen 31. Reciprocating elevating bars are thus provided, which are guided at their lower ends, and controlled and free to yield upwardly to a limited extent at their upper ends. lt will thus be seen that both vthe gathering cylinder and endless conveyer, as well as the reciprocating elevating bars, are actuated from the single shaft 6.

As the endless conveyer 16 en the gathering cylinder and driving cylinder 7 extends practically at right angles to the reciprocating elevating finger bars 24, the direction of movement of the hay will not be reversed but will be made to move in a transverse direction at the junction of the gathering and elevating carriers, and the tendency to choke thereby lessened. lf more hay is received by the endless conveyer 16 and the gathering cylinder than can pass 'through the throat between the compressor bars 21 and the top of i said endless conveyer, the compressor bars will yield at their upper ends, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus increasing the capacity of the throat and effectually avoiding clicking of the ha r therein. lt will also be observed that any clicking' tendency in the throat above the gathering-carrier will operate to press the gathering cylinder with more force against its work instead of permitting itself to be pushed away from its work by an increased amount of hay.

The fact that the gathering-carrier lies so closely above and in front of the main axle 4 will result in the machine being well balanced and also in a slight variation of the gathering cylinder with respect to the ground when a change of height is made in the wagon to which the loader is attached. lf the loader is hooked to wagons of different heights, the hook or support 18 can be adjusted up or down on the main frame to limit the downward movement of the arms 10 of the frame of the gathering-carrier TOO above said gathering-carrier,

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a hay loader, in combination, an axle, supporting wheels mounted thereon, an eleventing-carrier including two series of reciprocating rake bars, a gathering-carrier comprising a carrier-driving` shalt located above the axle and provided with double cranked ends, a drum secured to said shalt, an elastically suspended 'frame pivotally mounted upon said shaft and extending' downward and 'forwardly therefrom, a gathering-cylinder mounted on the lower end ol said trame and rotating forward ly at the ground line, and an endless conveyer engaging said drum and cylinder, and a direct pitman connection between the cranked ends of said chivingl shaft and the rake bars of said 'elevating-carrier.

2. ln a hay loader, in combination, an axle, supporting wheels mounted thereon, an elevating,I carrier, an elastically suspended gatheringcarrier free at its lower end and pivotally mounted at its upper end above the axle and extending downward and forwardly therefrom, and a series of elastic compressor bars 'lixed at their lower ends and arranged the 'lixed and tree ends of said compressor bars overlying, respectively, the free and pivotally supported ends of the gathering-carrier, thereby forming a yielding throat through which the material is conveyed.

i l t i l 3. In a hay loader, in combination, an axle, supporting` wheels mounted thereon, an elevating-carrier, an, elastically suspended gathering-carrier pivotally mounted above the axle and extending,I downward and 'forwardly therefrom, and a series of elastic compressor bars arranged above said gathering-carrier and upwardly convergent with respect thereto, the said compressor bars being;l secured at their lower ends to the frame of the loader and having their upper ends curved to form a sliding connection with the bottom ol" said elevating-carrier.

Ll. ln a hay loader, in combination, au axle, supporting wheels mounted thereon, an elevating-carrier, an elastically suspended `trame vpivotally mounted above the sup porting' axle and extending' downward and ilorwardly therefrom, a gathering cylinder mounted in. said 'frame and rotating forwardly at the `around line, a drum mounted at the 'lixed end ot said frame, an endless conveyer erre/argille` said drum and cylinder, side-boards secured to the 'frame and movable therewith, and a series of elastic compressor strips curved at their upper ends andeslidably engaging;l at their upper ends with the bottom ot the elevatting-carrier.

Vitncsses Panini RANDELL, CHARLES N. l-Ios'rirrrnn.

ARTHUR JOHNSTON. 

